Trump South Asia Strategy India tariff Pakistan Relief
US President Donald Trump has started a new diplomatic and economic game in South Asia. On the one hand, Trump has been carrying a huge tariff of up to 50% on goods going from here to America by calling India a “special friend”. On the other hand, Trump has shocked everyone by giving many concessions with only 19% tariffs to Pakistan, which is struggling with financial crisis. The question is arising whether this trick of Trump is an attempt to target India and China together? Or is this the result of burning with India’s progress?
Tariff’s double hit on India
Trump tied the bridges of compliments by calling India a “pucca friend” at the G20 Summit, but seeing his next step, this friendship has started to be questioned. First, 25% tariffs were given on goods going from India to America. Then Trump hit 25% and tariffs by making India’s friendship excuse with Russia. outcome? Now Indian goods have to pay up to 50% tax in the US market. This is a major setback for India’s fast growing economy, which exports huge amounts to America in areas such as electronics, medicines, auto parts, jewelery and farming items.
PM Modi and Donald Trump (File Photo)
Trump’s kindness over Pakistan’s sinking economy
Pakistan, whose economy is staggering due to lack of foreign exchange, skyrocketing inflation and strict conditions of IMF, has given a big relief to Trump by putting only 19% tariffs. Not only this, Trump called Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir at the White House for private lunch and spoke of a new era of America-Pakistan partnership. All this is happening when Pakistan’s economic condition is so bad that it is being considered on the verge of losing “economic sovereignty”.
Experts believe that Trump’s trick is an attempt to bring Pakistan out of the clutches of China and bring it to America’s court. Pakistan did not create any special stir on Trump’s tariff policy, but quietly accepted it. Some analysts have described it as “economic dedication”, where Islamabad has bowed down to the terms of America and has hoped for financial help and diplomatic support.
Donald Trump and Shahbaz Sharif
What is the real game of Trump?
This policy of Trump is not just a matter of business, but deep diplomatic intentions are hidden behind it. It is believed that Trump wants to reduce the dominance of both India and China by bringing Pakistan into his court. Especially in view of Pakistan’s decades -old strategic relationship with China, this trick of Trump is very important. China has invested fiercely in Pakistan, especially in big projects like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). But the China Institute of Content of Contemporary International Relations, Hu Visanng, says that Trump’s “sweets” may seem breathtaking, but it cannot shake the “strong foundation” of China-Pakistan relations.
The second attitude of Trump’s strategy is related to India’s relations with Russia. The US is upset due to India’s neutral attitude in Russia-Ukraine war and buying oil and weapons from Russia. Trump has tried to pressurize India by announcing to develop oil reserves with Pakistan.
Trump could not get ceasefire credit
Trump has tried to take credit to reduce tension between India and Pakistan on almost every occasion. He claimed on social media on May 10 that the two countries have agreed to the full ceasefire with the mediation of Washington. But India rejected his claim outright. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar clearly stated in the Rajya Sabha that during the ‘Operation Sindoor’, there was no third party role in the ceasefire with Pakistan. He also informed that there was no phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump from 22 April to 16 June. In such a situation, a question also arises that Trump did not take a decision to put a huge tariff on India due to this refutation of India.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Narendra Modi. (File photo)
Can Pakistan replace India?
Now it comes to the most important question, can Trump be betting on India, which is betting on Pakistan? The direct answer to this is never. The size and strength of India’s economy is many times larger than Pakistan. India exports to many areas such as electronics, medicines, auto parts and farming items, while Pakistan’s exports are mostly limited to clothes and garments. India’s ability to find a large domestic market and new export markets keeps it ahead of Pakistan.
The truth is that in 2019 itself, America understood that the economic and strategic importance of Pakistan is much less than in India. Even though Pakistan’s policy gives some relief to Pakistan, it is not easy for India to compete with India’s strong economic and diplomatic strength. On the other hand, how much time the concessions of Trump will be able to overcome the sinking economy of Pakistan, only time will tell.